HONOLULUThe Obama administration said Thursday it had reached a $30 billion agreement to sell advanced fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia.

APStaff Sgt. James Liedle refuels an F-15 aircraft at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on June 14, during the Northern Edge military training exercises near Anchorage, Alaska.

The government-to-government deal includes the sale of 84 new F-15 fighter jets and an upgrade of 70 others.The arms package, which follows months of negotiations, is part of a broader push by Washington to arm Gulf allies as a way to counter Iranian power. The two governments had been discussing the sale for more than a year, and Thursday's announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S."This agreement reinforces the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a strong Saudi defense capability as a key component to regional security," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement announcing the deal.